Joystiq review: E-@thletes
Over director Jonathan Boal's 75-minute film, you'll became acquainted with Team 3D and Complexity, two gaming squads that (in 2006 at least) always seemed to end up facing each other for the top prize. Their game of choice is Counter-Strike. In fact, other games hardly get so much as a mention.
There is big money in these tournaments, but when that cash goes to travel and is split up amongst the team ... well, let's just say that no one's getting rich. But that adds to the film's drama when you know that the prize money up for grabs isn't just a nice bonus -- it's a plane ticket to the next event, or a way to excuse blowing off a part-time job to make money gaming.
"When they go to China, the contrast between the rock star reception they get there vs. the empty convention halls they play to in the US is just staggering" |
The stakes are high between the two teams, both populated with some interesting characters (as well as their fair share of cinematic dead weight) but the real battle isn't being fought over CAT-5 cable ... it's the struggle to be accepted, to reap the kind of fame and rewards that teams in Asia and Europe are getting. Seriously, when you see these guys go to China, the contrast between the kind of rock star reception they get there vs. the empty convention halls they're playing to in the States is just staggering.
By the end of the film, you might find that besides picking your favorite squad, you're also rooting for pro-gaming to blow up in North America. Heck, I've laughed up my sleeve at pro-gaming so many times that my shirts smell like Don Rickles and even I wanted the teams to have their work rewarded.
While the drama of the teams and the struggles of e-sports to become recognized are pretty riveting, there's perhaps a bit too much time spent trying to justify their existence. I could have done with a bit fewer people telling me how taxing it is and how much skill it requires and a few more people actually showing me. Even with that slight stumble, there's more than enough goodness here to make it an easy recommendation.
By the time the film reaches its climax at DIRECTV's first televised Championship Gaming Series, players are being coached on celebrating on a neon-lit stage straight from The Wizard before being awarded what I'd swear was a piece of the Aggro Crag. It's "xtreme" in the most grating way possible, and you just want to shake the producers and show them that if they'd focus on the reality of the situation, everyday guys who are running themselves into the ground for a pot of gold that may not even exist, we'd be powerless to look away.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 1:42PM
Maybe is because people don't like to watch other people playing when they could be doing something better with their time or playing the same videogames.
You know I find Magic Tournaments way more exciting than videogame tournaments because in strategy games you can see some new strategy and being the first to learn the new Meta helps you to get better in the game. In these tournaments you can’t see sh*t and you couldya know be playing the game instead of watching someone else play in tv.
hsx5 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:57PM
I guess that's why professional football and ice hockey failed so miserably as a spectator sport as well. Everyone would just rather play it themselves. Hang in there NHL and NFL I still believe in you :(
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 2:31PM
I know you are all trying to say Pro gaming is serious business but I don't like to watch other people play.
Also more people would watch this event if they gave free beer.
Not to mention these tournaments bring me back bad memories. People in these events are normally doucheb*ags and so are the followers apparently since they drain the fun out of the game.
When I won I said GG and I retired with everyone staring at me as If I had cheated or if I had raped them and the second place still manage to be an ahole with everybody else.
You know what’s the main difference between gamers and people who play real sports? Good Sportsmanship.
That ruined several games for me, I didn’t cared If I won and I didn’t enjoy it and the atmosphere was suffocating.
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Sep 9th 2008 3:01PM
"that's why professional football and ice hockey failed so miserably as a spectator sport" ~ hsx5
Are you kidding me?! The NFL has by far the highest attendence and viewership per game of any sport.
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 3:04PM
He was being sarcastic ¬_¬
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Sep 9th 2008 3:24PM
"He was being sarcastic"
So was I. I mean duh you can totally tell by my TEXT what the inflection in my voice (which you can't hear) that I was being sarcastic when I suggested hsx5 was being sincere. I mean obviously I knew he was being sarcastic. Geez Mr. ESC get a grip!
/sarcasm
theturtle363 @ Sep 9th 2008 3:54PM
"You know what’s the main difference between gamers and people who play real sports? Good Sportsmanship."
lol
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Sep 9th 2008 5:15PM
Wow, looks like we got some baseball fanboys voting me down. I don't even like football, but it's a FACT that it's the most popular sport in America.
Jack of No Trades 85 @ Sep 9th 2008 1:44PM
Pro-Gamer....only in my dreams.
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 1:58PM
I used to be in tournaments when I was younger and I must say you wouldn't like it, as cool as it sounds to be the number one (Insert game here) champion the people in those events suck ass. Usually the participants have too much time in their hands and none of them was beat by their parents enough, with that I meant most of them are d*cks.
Also in a tournament is really hard to find someone that actually gives a run for your money, most of them will stick to the cheapest strategy or cheat depending on the level of the tournament.
As I said Magic tournaments are way better at least there is a bit of thought in those but to be honest casual play in Magic is the way to go.
Giroro @ Sep 9th 2008 3:13PM
It's called "strategy".
I guess you missed the point of gaming tournaments; you're supposed to play to win.
theturtle363 @ Sep 9th 2008 3:55PM
i guess you missed the part where games are supposed to be fun
Giroro @ Sep 9th 2008 5:03PM
^^^*except at tournaments ^^^
I don't think may people who take games seriously enough to compete in tournaments have very much fun.
Weenus @ Sep 9th 2008 1:51PM
That's a blanket statement and it's wildly incorrect. Any competitive event can be looked at with that same ignorance, ESC. I could say the same thing about magic from the outside looking in. If you watch the top tier of Counter-Strike competition, you'll see new tricks put into play the same way you would watching M:TG competitively. There is nothing you can do by playing on public servers in Counter-Strike to ever become a shade of the player that the Pro's are. Plenty of people have tried to make that argument and failed miserably.
By the way, Directv has a televised competitive gaming league that is doing well, both in the US and in global regions.
www.thecgs.com
Vidikron (FU) @ Sep 9th 2008 2:17PM
I don't think that's what he meant. I think he meant that as a spectator you can't see anything watching these tournaments. Also, you last point about public servers is BS. That's where virtually everyone starts.
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM
1-I could say the same thing about magic from the outside looking in.
In the words of Samuel L Jackson: “I dare you ,I doble dare you motherf*cker”.
Well in the case of Magic if you already watching a tournament you are already too deep into the game also that there is more thought it building a 60card deck prepared against people who put the same effort and dedication into their decks which are packed with probably tons so stuff that could twist the game in ways that can turn the tide of battle immediately in one turn.
So no.
2-If you watch the top tier of Counter-Strike competition, you'll see new tricks put into play the same way you would watching M:TG competitively.
Eh no for the reason televised events just circle the cameras, you are saying this as If I haven’t ever seen one.
Also you learn more form a youtube video than a televised match. The only trick I learned from a tournament was to never circle a camera because you don’t know WTF is going on.
3-There is nothing you can do by playing on public servers in Counter-Strike to ever become a shade of the player that the Pro's are.
Wow Cs is serious business, glad I never play it more than a month. Neverwinter nights was so awesome and BTW I was one of the top 5 NWN players so STFU but let me guess no one cares because running and gunning is way, WAY MORE Complicated that building a character that can counter everybody else.
4-Plenty of people have tried to make that argument and failed miserably.
Like yourself.
Now you are telling me this like if I was some jealous f*cker who doesn’t know sh*t well you are wrong, I have been in tournaments and the reason I didn’t like them is because people as yourself are f*gs who ruin the game.
I have to say that people can ruin what could be a wonderful game. Is funny how players separate themselves from each other depending on the game for example halo players think they are the top sh*it and Cs think they are better than them but people who play strategy games think they are better than them. To be honest no one gives a f*ck except yourself because videogames are just a hobby.
Want to feel important, change people and improve their lives.
I have been writing books to help people to improve their lives for a while and yeah even when I know I kick ass in TF2 and Neverwinter nights (More or less in Castle crashers) I know my job will and is always going to be more important than whatever I can accomplish in a videogame.
Another thing is that you want to compare people that just happen to be good in a game to people that actually worked out since their childhood to be actual Champions.
Giroro @ Sep 9th 2008 3:06PM
Wow, Mr.ESC, you're a douche.
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 3:38PM
Not I'm not but I guess you can get carried away when drinking the hateorate.
I wasn't going to post the following text but awwww c'mon ef a guy.
Weenus I'm waiting for your response.
Well I take your silence as a big "I'm sorry for being a loser"
Apology accepted Weenus but don’t mess with me or I’ll eff you up.
Yeah I'm sure you didn't expect to be called out by a pro eh.
Still I don't like pro gaming is not only watching other people play stupid, seriously if I knew someone was watching me while I play I don't know a game I'm good at nowadays (Sadly I quitted every game I'm good at because I got sick of them) I would tell them that while I’m glad their enjoying the show that they should do something else with their time.
Games are for everyone not for a few and this only helps to reinforce a negative stereotype of people who play videogames.
I work hard and even when I played like there was no effing tomorrow back in the day believe me when I say to you than I do have a life (A very, very busy life) and I’m not a jack*ss.If someone told me being the best in NWN wasn’t a big deal I would agree since it wasn’t,it was something personal.
Also I rather get recognized for the Story I wrote for a children’s book that was distributed nationally when I was 10 which also won an award from the National Secretary of Education than something puny like a being the best in a videogame.
Yeah I have won several literature awards so suck it hard Weenus…I mean ahem don’t be mean. (See that’s exactly why I quitted,it turns you into a d*uche..I'm not a d*uche)
j.howlett @ Sep 9th 2008 4:44PM
you must have had an outstanding editor or just a hard working one.
Sam @ Sep 9th 2008 1:57PM
I don't know about you guys, but I don't know what to think about these "pro" gamers. I kind of feel sorry for them. they devote ALL their time to games, all they know is channeled through that. I may play a lot of videogames, and I know there's a lot of money in videogames, but I NEVER want to become a pro.
Duke @ Sep 9th 2008 2:05PM
When I see shows on the pro gamer type people it makes me feel uncomfortable about being a gamer. When I see some kid drop out of high school to follow this dream and then talk about how the next 12k championship check will make his dreams come true, I am stunned by the lack of a big picture view that person has found. Watching them sitting in a basement with their team and playing 12 hours straight while life goes by isn't very stimulating to me.
hsx5 @ Sep 9th 2008 2:05PM
I think it's a common misconception that if someone is good at something it's all they do. These people have lives just like everyone else. They go to school, they have friends believe it or not. It's impossible to just play games all day everyday. You become mentally fatigued just like you become physically fatigued playing something like hockey. You might think playing more will help but when you play too much it becomes counterintuitive.
Vcize @ Sep 9th 2008 2:40PM
How is that any different than the millions of people that devote their lives to music or art and can barely make enough money (or not make enough money) to live on?
Duke @ Sep 9th 2008 2:43PM
I was commenting on something that I have seen in shows profiling gamers before.
Mr.ESC @ Sep 9th 2008 2:48PM
Well I'm some sort of a pro-gamer since I was one of the best in NWN and I completely understand why people hate the so called pro gamers.
Some pros are Jerks, sometimes even myself.
I remember turning people into stone and Lol at them and since they couldn't get over the incredible high salvation throw but compared to the rest I was actually one of the most charming pros in that game since I never meant to insult no one but damn the other guys even the guy bellow me in the rank was a complete douche. He made fun of people and he didn’t even wanted to recognize my rank, yeah he was a big sad loser.
Most Pros actually cheat in some way; in a game where everybody has the same opportunities to win the only thing that separates winners from losers are cheats, glitches and small advantages. To be the best in NVW I played that game nonstop.
There is a rule in Pc games: Want to be the best, play for a year and it’s true.
Nowadays I only play for fun I really got sick of tournaments when I was kid, that’s the origin of my hatred for Halo. Good game but the players suck.
Oh and if you think pro gamers are sad just ask me about my days playing yu-gi-oh.
(I’m not making this up and also seriously you won good but don’t be a jerk,you give pros a bad name)
Sorry if this double or triple post.
“How is that any different than the millions of people that devote their lives to music or art and can barely make enough money (or not make enough money) to live on?”
People who make music and arts somehow give something to our culture while gamers well they don’t do anything but play the game, I didn’t created NWN why should I get recognition for it?
As much as you guys want to compare pro gaming to other sports is that other sports bring something to the table, even those NFL steroid monstrosities pose as inspirations for kids to play sports and get in shape.
Once more I think pro gamming would be more recognized if the guys playing them would be a good example instead of something you don’t want to see your kids turn into or social rejects.
AwesomeTown @ Sep 9th 2008 3:04PM
I really have no interest in watching gaming tournaments at all, especially after what Mr. ESC has said. I'm never good enough at any game to compete, but just playing and watching games with a large number of people would be enjoyable. I just can't do it on Halo which has really turned me off from most games on Live. For every one person, like Mr. ESC here, there's at least 50 others who's goal is to be a douche as much as it is to win. It's near impossible to just get online and have a good time. The more I see pro-gamers on TV, I can almost tell those are the same kind of people. You can count me out on this movie.
Giroro @ Sep 9th 2008 3:11PM
I pity professional athletes, What's your point?
Mr Khan @ Sep 9th 2008 2:16PM
I've heard many disparaging stories about the tourney scene, and i doubt this movie is going to alleviate that, but it does make the concept of MLG a little more reeal to me
j.howlett @ Sep 9th 2008 2:17PM
i've said it before that in some places pro gamers are big celebrities. what i don't like about pro gaming is the lack of variety. MLG might as well stand for microsoft league gaming and likely had a part in me not wanting to finish halo 2.
Klofn @ Sep 9th 2008 2:18PM
May this "hur hur" be a representation of my dislike of all this.
HUR HUR
Edge @ Sep 9th 2008 2:19PM
Just say no to pro-gaming.
Video games are product, not a real competitive platform. Play games for fun, or get a job as a QA tester. Actually, let pro-gamers test your multiplayer games. They seem to be pretty good at finding game-breaking glitches and making a whole strategy based on using them.
Tonyplusplus @ Sep 9th 2008 2:51PM
They tried that with Halo 3 and turned it into the least competitive game of the trilogy.
Marcelo Abans @ Sep 9th 2008 3:42PM
Tell that Garry Kasparov, who just plays the "game" of chess.
There's a market for all these games, it's a matter of whether consumer wants it enough.. If no one wanted hockey (as it seems to be shown year in and out) no one has to show up and it'll hurt that industry. Making it a matter of "it should be this" isn't what it's about, it's about being entertained by watching other people perhaps do things you can't, couldn't or just don't understand. Gosh forbid you are entertained by a CS.S match or WoW 4 vs 4. I love Ninja warrior because of it.
The idea is proven to work, Starcade lasted 134 episodes of players competition with one another with games a lot less complex than CS. It just dipped and went away because the whole industry took a dump. Then nintendo came along and revitialized it.
I think something properly produced with less "business" buzz words can make it entertaining, just make it about the game and players and you'll make a killing.
Mr Khan @ Sep 9th 2008 4:08PM
Or be like Masahiro Sakurai, and deliberately build your sequel to be as unappealing to the pro-gamer set as possible. Random tripping, Smash Balls, the craziest set of stages to date, etc.
Oddly, though, the characters are all very well-balanced.
Fosssil @ Sep 9th 2008 8:25PM
@Tonyplus --
They didn't have any pros come in to test Halo 3 until they were trying to fix the melee system with the first auto update -- no one connected with MLG was in any way involved in pre-launch testing of the game.
WhoMe @ Sep 9th 2008 2:57PM
Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised by the style in which this post was written.
Informative, to the point, and no lame phuns or misplaced snark.
Who are you and what have you done to Justin McElroy?
Justin McElroy @ Sep 9th 2008 3:52PM
That's what happens when I go long form. Shit gets loco.
Mr Khan @ Sep 9th 2008 4:16PM
The puns and the lol moments are always welcome, but i sure as hell could do without the snark
j.howlett @ Sep 9th 2008 4:52PM
small amounts of snark are ok just spread it around
Marcelo Abans @ Sep 9th 2008 3:31PM
Poor Mr. ESC someone is sure is sour on the idea.. If you wouldn't watch it then don't, doesn't mean there isn't a market for it. Soccer has been struggling for years to get some market share in the US but hasn't got a footing yet. Give it time the machines will figure out a way to make money off of that as well as E-sports..
theturtle363 @ Sep 9th 2008 4:02PM
that's cuz soccer sux!111!!THX1138
Ben @ Sep 9th 2008 8:28PM
Not to interrupt this "serious" discussion, but @ stands for AT..... riiiight?.. then shouldn't it be e-@hletes?
My stand point, if driving in circles is considered a sport.... if Bowling is considered a sport... if DARTS are considered a sport, what's wrong with considering videogames a sport?
If you do something well, why not get the recognition?
Do you think there were rockstars before the electric guitar was invented?
dongalos @ Sep 9th 2008 9:40PM
it's the drama they put into NBA, NHL and the way they make their players look like GODS
If the right people marketed video games to get that same sort of hype it could work
Isn't that starcraft player from Korea supposed to have girls crying over him? There's something behind the way the TV treats these activities that hypes people up about wanting to watch it
Watching basketball is fun because of the way the players are able to do things i could never do, when people watch others playing video games they usually think to themselves anyone can do that...
EMaster @ Sep 10th 2008 1:43AM
Please for the love of god. STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE ATHLETES!!! THERE IS NOTHING ATHLETIC GOING ON HERE! Video Games are not athletic unless they maybe involve DDR or In The Groove or any other Wiimote wielding action that may cause sweat due to physical exercise. These people are sitting on their ASS and not performing anything athletic.
If you ARE in fact an "athlete" as stated in the article Go join a sports team or take martial arts before you are considered an athlete. Oh and NASCAR doesn't count either. Any Fat fuck can drive a car.
EOD
Amp @ Sep 10th 2008 11:13PM
"Any Fat fuck can drive a car."
Any Fat fuck can throw darts.
Any Fat fuck can roll a ball on the ground toward pins.
Any Fat fuck can hold two cards in his hand for 20 minutes while carefully watching all the other people holding 2 cards.
Any Fat fuck can see where I'm going with this.
bob @ Sep 11th 2008 6:11PM
any fat fuck can drive a car at 200 miles an hour? really? you are an idiot.
if playing chess, which is turn based and requires no physical skills is "legitimate," then playing counter strike is totally legit, counter strike is in real time (at "twitch" speeds), requires eye hand coordination, strategy, teamwork, etc.
Hmm, teamwork, lightning fast reflexes, eye hand coordination, strategy...did I just describe any other team sport that is played professionally???
Mr.Ironic @ Nov 19th 2008 12:49AM
They should have called it Cyber War, people would have been falling over themselves to compete (especially in America?). Call them warriors or something. Not 'sport'. Fuck athlete, there's nothing particularly athletic about it. How ever a bunch of people shooting each other all day from different countries kind of fits.
If they called it a war it (and the others) would be/have been a success.